Vacation plans bud in springtime along with the flowers, and this year that goes double as (we hope) more and more pandemic restrictions are lifted. Rumors to the contrary, Perfect Propriety is still something to take with you on vacation, including on that feature of urban destinations and package trips, the walking tour. Etiquetteer has some ground rules.
First, and most important, how well you’re prepared has a direct impact on other travelers. Walking tourists are paying to experience the wonders of, say, an old cathedral town or a desert landscape, not your frantic quest for a restroom or missing travel document. Tourists show consideration for others by being prepared for the day’s activities, reviewing any advance information about what is (or isn’t) included at least an hour before, preferably earlier.
“Never assume” is basic etiquette advice; that’s true here. Never assume there will be someplace to sit down or that there will be access to a restroom; they call it a walking tour for a reason. If these factors are important to your well-being, consult in advance with the tour staff. If they are unable to provide what you seek, you may need to reevaluate whether a walking tour is the right sort of sightseeing for you.
Never assume that everyone is going to hang around waiting for you to take all the photographs you want. This is especially true in countries where you do not speak the local language. Stick with the group, and don’t stray too far. Inveterate shutterbugs (Etiquetteer will admit to being one) might use a walking tour to scout out locations for return visits on one’s own.
Never assume the weather, or pavement, will accommodate you. Rain gear is always Perfectly Proper; consult the forecast before leaving your room. Bring water on a hot day (or decide not to go if the temperature is excessive). And it can’t be said enough: comfortable shoes are a must. Walking tours can go on for hours (good ones share estimated walking times in advance), and all that walking and standing will take a toll*.
Pay attention to your guide’s information, which presumably is one of the reasons you’re on the tour in the first place. Of course it’s permissible to gaze about you at the wonders of [Insert Attraction Here] and even to take photos (when permitted, see below). But intense concentration on your phone instead of the presentation is not good manners.
Obey photo restrictions, if any, at particular attractions. Etiquetteer has sometimes said “It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission,” but there are places — the Sistine Chapel**, for instance — where that line won’t work. Your disobedience could also result in professional repercussions for the tour guide you’re with. Get the postcards in the gift shop instead — so much less trouble.
Finally, if tipping is permitted, tip well; 10-20% is the standard***. While coins often come in large denominations overseas, it is not considered good taste to tip a tour guide with coins. Please use bills.
Etiquetteer wishes you a Perfectly Proper and Perfectly Delightful walking tour on a day with beautiful weather.
*Etiquetteer was fascinated to learn recently that Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting would buy their shoes one size too large because of all the standing they were required to do at Court functions.
**See the photo restrictions for the Sistine Chapel and Vatican City here.
***More information on all sorts of travel tipping here.